Currently Reading

Season 8, Episode 21: A Look Back - Our Top 10 Reads of 2021

December 29, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The hosts, Kaytee and Meredith, are revisiting their individual Top 10 favorite books they read in 2021, emphasizing that their lists reflect the best books read that year, not necessarily books published that year. 
  • The process of curating the Top 10 lists for the "Currently Reading" podcast was described as highly agonizing, with Meredith starting from 19 five-star reads and Kaytee using an intuitive gut check on her reading log. 
  • The hosts noted that their Top 10 lists for 2021 showed little overlap, which they view positively as it provides listeners with a wider variety of recommended books across different genres. 

Segments

Podcast Introduction and Episode Theme
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(00:00:11)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode is a special look back at their top 10 reads of 2021.
  • Summary: Hosts Meredith Mundy Schwartz and Katie Cobb introduce the ‘Currently Reading’ podcast, emphasizing their strong opinions and spoiler-free discussions. They announce the special episode: revisiting their top 10 books read in 2021.
Why They Love Look Back Episodes
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(00:01:12)
  • Key Takeaway: These look-back episodes are popular because the books are backlist titles, easily accessible to listeners.
  • Summary: They explain that these annual look-backs, done between Christmas and New Year’s, revisit previous top 10 lists. They highlight that the books are available now, making it easy for listeners to find them.
Difficulty of Finalizing Top 10 Lists
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(00:02:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Finalizing the top 10 list for 2021 was extremely difficult, involving angst and tears.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss the intense emotional labor required to narrow down their reading year to just ten books, noting this year was particularly hard.
Defining ‘Top Books of the Year’
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(00:03:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Their lists rank the best books read in 2021, not necessarily books published in 2021.
  • Summary: They clarify that their lists are based on personal favorites from what they read that year, regardless of publication date, which allows them to recommend backlist titles.
Process for Ranking 2021 Reads
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(00:04:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Both hosts used an intuitive gut check first, deleting books that didn’t immediately ‘scream out’ before agonizing over the final ranking.
  • Summary: Katie details her process: starting with a list of all reads, gut-checking to get to 30, and then agonizing over the final cut. Meredith started with her 19 five-star reads and cut four immediately.
2021 Reading Volume Comparison
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(00:05:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith read 120 books in 2021 (slightly more than 2020) but felt much more satisfied with her reading choices this year.
  • Summary: Meredith shares her total count (120 books) and notes her satisfaction level was much higher than the previous year, suggesting better book selection.
Katie’s #10 Read: Legendborn
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(00:12:20)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie’s #10 book is Legendborn by Tracy Deion, a YA fantasy gem involving Arthurian legend and magical underworlds.
  • Summary: Katie reveals her hardest choice for #10 was Legendborn. She praises the world-building and the protagonist, Bree, navigating a magical society focused on legacy families.
Meredith’s Genre Breakdown for 2021
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(00:13:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith’s reading was heavily skewed toward mysteries/thrillers (47% of her 120 reads), with only 12 nonfiction books.
  • Summary: Meredith analyzes her reading stats, noting her gut instinct about reading less mystery/thriller was wrong, as 56 of her 120 books fell into that category.
Meredith’s #10 Read: A Place to Hang the Moon
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(00:16:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith’s #10 book is A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus, a hopeful WWII middle-grade story about orphans.
  • Summary: Meredith chose this middle-grade book over Fable Haven. She loves its hopeful tone, focus on books/libraries, and its redemptive ‘swing-up’ trope.
Katie’s #9 Read: The Love Hypothesis
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(00:18:32)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie’s #9 book is The Love Hypothesis by Allie Hazelwood, her only romance on the list, noted for being ‘romance plus’ due to its commentary on academia.
  • Summary: Katie describes the fake dating trope and the deeper themes concerning women in academia that elevate this book beyond standard romance.
Katie’s #9 Switch: A Court of Wings and Ruin
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(00:20:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie makes a last-minute switch, replacing The Love Hypothesis with A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas for her YA fantasy slot.
  • Summary: Katie explains she couldn’t leave the third book in the ACOTAR series off her list, despite it being a sequel, praising its strategy and political elements.
Katie’s #8 Read: The Day the World Came to Town
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(00:23:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie’s #8 book is the nonfiction The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFiti, a story about 9/11 kindness in Gander, Newfoundland.
  • Summary: This book restored Katie’s faith in humanity by detailing how the town of Gander cared for 38 diverted planes’ passengers after 9/11.
Meredith’s #8 Read: Wintering
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(00:25:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith’s #8 book is Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Catherine May, which she read during the Texas ice storm.
  • Summary: Meredith calls this book perfect for the time, relating its theme of necessary rest and retreat to the forced isolation of the pandemic.
Katie’s #7 Read: Project Hail Mary
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(00:29:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie’s #7 book is Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, a sci-fi novel about saving the sun, which Meredith also loved.
  • Summary: Katie notes this is the one potential overlap book. She praises its themes of resilience and friendship, advising readers to skim heavy science sections if needed.
Meredith’s #7 Read: State of Terror
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(00:31:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith’s #7 book is State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny, a political thriller featuring two middle-aged female best friends saving the world.
  • Summary: Meredith loved the book for its page-turning plot and the satisfying portrayal of powerful, middle-aged female friendship.
Superlative: Lowest Rated Books of 2021
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(00:34:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie’s lowest rated books (2 stars) were Roar and The Atomic City Girls, saved from lower ratings only by buddy reads.
  • Summary: Meredith and Katie share their most disliked reads. Meredith hated The Survivor Song (boring) and Survive the Night (predictable/dumb lead character).
Katie’s #6 Read: Love Lives Here
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(00:38:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie’s #6 book is the memoir Love Lives Here by Amanda Jetay Knox, which resonated deeply as her sister transitioned.
  • Summary: This powerful memoir about a family navigating a child and partner coming out as trans reminded Katie to let love guide interactions through difficult learning curves.
Meredith’s #6 Read: Pony
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(00:40:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith’s #6 book is Pony by R.G. Palacio, a propulsive, heartfelt middle-grade story about a boy whose father is kidnapped.
  • Summary: Meredith notes that despite its MG label, the book transcends genre. She loved the main character, Silas, and the plot-driven narrative.
Katie’s #5 Read: The Gunkle
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(00:42:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie’s #5 book is The Gunkle by Stephen Rowley, a touching story about a gay uncle navigating grief while caring for his niece and nephew.
  • Summary: Katie praises the book for balancing humor with grief, highlighting how the uncle learns to love his niece and nephew through a difficult time.
Meredith’s #5 Read: The Devotion of Suspect X
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(00:44:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith’s #5 book is The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino, a smart, perfectly executed Japanese police procedural/literary mystery.
  • Summary: Meredith was surprised by this pick, noting it demanded close attention and featured a brilliant resolution where all the dominoes clicked into place.
Superlative: Most Surprising Reads of 2021
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(00:53:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie was most surprised by The Black Count by Tom Rees, which converted her from disliking biography to loving it.
  • Summary: Meredith’s most surprising read was Piranesi by Susannah Clark, which she reveals is secretly a murder mystery disguised as high literary fantasy.
Katie’s #3 Read: How the Word is Passed
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(00:59:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Katie’s #3 book is How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith, her top nonfiction and anti-racism book of the year.
  • Summary: Katie praises Smith’s precise language and research as he explores the legacy of slavery across various locations, noting the necessity of reading both audio and print versions.
Meredith’s #3 Read: We Begin at the End
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(01:01:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Meredith’s #3 book is We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker, a divisive literary mystery focused on unforgettable characters like Duchess Day Radley.
  • Summary: Meredith acknowledges the divisive writing style but emphasizes that the book is about the town and its characters, not just the mystery plot.
Review of Divisive Whitaker Novel
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(01:01:41)
  • Key Takeaway: We Begin at the End is a divisive literary mystery focused deeply on character.
  • Summary: Discussion of We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker, noting its divisive nature regarding the writing style. The book focuses on characters in a small California town dealing with past and present ramifications, emphasizing character over plot.
Katie’s Violent Second Place Pick
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(01:04:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Razorblade Tears is an unforgettable, violent, but deeply rewarding novel about vengeance.
  • Summary: Katie reveals her number two book, Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. It features two fathers seeking vengeance for their murdered gay sons. The host warns of extreme violence but assures listeners the journey is worthwhile.
Meredith’s Sharp Historical Fiction
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(01:07:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Matrix is a razor-sharp novel about female leadership in a 12th-century nunnery.
  • Summary: Meredith names Matrix by Lauren Groff as her number two. It details a lifetime lived by a woman leading a nunnery in the 12th century. The writing is praised as beautiful and immediately engaging.
Katie’s Emotional Number One Read
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(01:11:10)
  • Key Takeaway: All the Lonely People is a heartbreaking story about loneliness and finding found family.
  • Summary: Katie announces her number one book, All the Lonely People by Mike Gale. It follows Hubert Bird, an elderly man trying to manifest friends before his daughter visits. The book explores themes of loss, grief, and connection.
Meredith’s Favorite Book of All Time
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(01:13:55)
  • Key Takeaway: A Gentleman in Moscow is Meredith’s number one book of 2021 and a favorite of all time.
  • Summary: Meredith reveals her number one pick, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, which she calls a revelation. She emphasizes that it is a book about found family, contrary to descriptions of it being slow.
Reflecting on Annual Top 10 Lists
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(01:17:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Creating a yearly top 10 list is an illuminating exercise for readers.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss the usefulness of compiling a top 10 list, noting it reflects the reader’s identity and helps guide future reading choices. They confirm all of their 2021 favorites remain highly regarded.
Previewing Future Content and Sign-Off
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(01:20:52)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts will reconvene after Christmas to record their top 10 books of 2025.
  • Summary: The hosts wrap up the episode, previewing the next major segment (Top 10 Reads of 2025). They provide contact information and encourage listener support before signing off.